FRANKLIN, Pa. — Pennsylvania Game Commission Northwest Region Director Richard T. Cramer has announced the region’s schedule of Hunter-Trapper Education classes through the end of November.
“Time is running out for those who have not yet passed a basic Hunter-Trapper Education course”, Cramer said. “Procrastination sometimes gets the better of us, but becoming certified through a basic Hunter-Trapper Education course is mandatory for all first-time license buyers, regardless of age.”
“While we have been holding courses all summer, we have found that some people wait until autumn is officially here to begin making plans for the hunting seasons. So now is the time to register for a course if you want to be eligible to hunt for the first time this season.”
Cramer noted that after the courses are completed in November, the region won’t begin a new slate of Hunter-Trapper Education classes until early in 2017.
To register for a course in your area, visit the Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.pa.gov) click on “Hunter Education” under Quick Clicks and then click on either “Register for a class using the Hunter Education Class Calendars” or “Online Pennsylvania Hunter-Trapper Education.”
With the support of volunteer instructors and organizations that host classes, HTE courses are being held throughout the region. There is no fee for the basic HTE course. Pre-registration is required and online registration is available for all courses offered by the agency.
In order to prepare for class, read Chapters 1, 4, 5, and 9 located in “Today’s Hunter & Trapper in PA.” You will be directed to an online link from the agency website.
Taught by dedicated teams of trained volunteers, most HTE classes last at least six hours over one or two days, and participants must attend all instruction before taking the test at the end of the course. Youngsters must be at least 11 years old to receive HTE certification.
Successful completion of a basic Pennsylvania HTE class or another state’s equivalent course is required by state law to obtain a first-time hunting or furtaker license, regardless of age.
Registrations also are being accepted for the online version of the basic HTE program, which is available for those 16 years of age or older. The online course is available to students on their own time schedule. A fee of $19.50 is required after successfully completing the course requirements to receive certification.
In 1959, the Game Commission began offering a voluntary hunter safety program, and about 25,000 students participated in that program annually. Beginning in 1969, the General Assembly required all first-time hunting license buyers under the age of 16 to successfully complete a four-hour hunter education course. The course requirement was expanded to six hours in 1977. The program became mandatory for all first-time hunting license buyers regardless of age in 1982.
In 1986, the safety program was increased to ten hours of class time and trapper training was included. The name of the program also was changed to Hunter-Trapper Education, and was required for all first-time furtaker license buyers, too. A combination home study-classroom version of the course reduced classroom time to six hours of instruction starting in 2013.
Since 1959, more than 1.8 million students have been certified through this course.
Following is a list of scheduled Hunter-Trapper Education courses for the Northwest Region:
Basic Hunter-Trapper Education Classes
Limestone Firehall, Clarion, Pa.
Saturday, November 12, 2016 – 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Heritage House, Brookville, Pa.
Sunday, October 23, 2016 – 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Stoney Point Grange, Greenville, Pa.
Saturday, October 15, 2016 – 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Marion Township Volunteer Fire Company Social Hall, Boyers, Pa.
Saturday, October 22, 2016 – 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Keystone Gun Club, Erie, Pa.
Saturday, October 22, 2016 – 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Two Mile Run County Park, Franklin, Pa.
Sunday, October 23, 2016 – 1:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Mahoning Sportsman Association, Hillsville, Pa.
Sunday, November 6, 2016 – 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Jennings Environmental Education Center, Slippery Rock, Pa.
Tuesday, November 8, 2016 – 6 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Wednesday, November 9, 2016 – 6 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Keystone Gun Club, Erie, Pa.
Saturday, November 12, 2016 – 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
McCalmont Township Fire Hall, Punxsutawney, Pa.
Saturday, November 12, 2016 – 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Venango Coon and Fox Hunters Club, Franklin, Pa.
Sunday, November 13, 2016 – 1:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Butler City Hunting and Fishing Club, East Butler, Pa.
Saturday, November 19, 2016 – 8:45 a.m. – 5 p.m.
